Samuel b



S. B. H. VANCE. Reflector.

-NQ-.'.,229,21'2. Patented June 22, 1880.

' UNITED STATES- PA'TENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL B. H. YANGE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REFLECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,212, dated June 22, 1880.

Application filed December 26, 1879.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. H. VANCE, of New York city, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reflectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of reflectors that are polygonal in shape and made with skeleton-frames, forming open sides, which are lled with segmental plates of glass; and the invention consists in certain improvements in the details of construction, which will be here' inafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the claims. Figure l of the drawings annexed presents a side elevation of my improved reflector fitted for a pendent chandelier or number of lights. Fig. 2 is a sectional planthereof on line a x, and Fig. 3 a vertical central section thereof.

The general form of the reflector is of the usual conical or similar convergent shape adapted for reflecting, and it is attachable to or connected with the gas-fixturein any of the usual modes. The frame of the reiicctor is of skeleton form, as shown, and consists of a base-rim, a, which is formed with vertical lips on each margin, from which rim radial partition-ribs b converge to an upper rim, c. y

The ribs of the frame are made of sheet metal bent into form and soldered or riveted to the top and bottom rims. The ribs b b, as shown, are of T form, with outer overlapping flanges, a, while the upper rim, c, is formed With projecting ears d, which are bent inward and downward, as shown. The ribs b thus divide the frame into a number of radial segmental panels or spaces, and these spaces are lled by plates e of opal glass, which are socketed or held in said panels around their margins, their lower edges resting on the base-rim between the lips thereof, the side edges being overlapped by the T-langes of the ribs, while the top edges are held by the ears d, bent in against the same. The reflecting-plates are thus securely held in the panels, yet are eX- posed both on the outside and inside, which not only allows a portion of the light to pass through the plates and become diffused in the space above and around the reiector, but also renders the construction lighter, simpler, and cheaper.

By the construction shown it will be observed that the reflecting-plates may be very readily iixed in or removed from the panels when desired, as their removal is allowed by simply bending up the ears d (l, While their fixation is obtained by the reverse action, as Will be understood, thus conducing greatly to simplicity and cheapness in the original construction, as well as allowing of any repairs, if subsequently required. This construction also admits of the ready removal or replacing of a broken pane, when the reflector is fixed in the ceiling of a room, without the necessity of loW- ering the reiiector out of its position, as by simply bending up the lip a pane can be readily'removed from the inside of the reflector, which cannot be done with the ordinary reilectors of this character.

By this described construction areilector of greatly-improved character is produced, for while being light, simple, and strong, and allowing a partial difusion of the light, which for many purposes is quite desirable, its refleeting quality is much superior to what has been previously employed, and the reflectingsurface is, moreover, quite indestructible. Thus the reflecting power of opal glass, or white porcelain, or similar pure white surface is found to be much superior to metallic surfaces or mirror-plates heretofore used in this class of reflectors, while a serious objection to the latter is the oxidation or dimness caused by the action of the heat and air, which soon impairs their reflecting power and renders my invention an important improvement over them. Y

Heretofore reiiectors have been formed of a single piece of opal glass, and street-lamps have been constructed with a bottom rim provided With lips to hold the panes of glass in place at their lower ends and an upper rim provided with lips, which are bent from the inside down on the panes to hold them at their upper ends; butin this construction no ribs are employed having outer longitudinalilanges to hold the panes. Moreover, a street-lamp is not a reflector, and no opal glass is employed.

Recctors have also been constructed with an upper and lower rim, connected by ribs having inner flanges, on which the panes rest, and the upper rim provided with lips turned down IOO upon the outer faces of the panes but in this construction the penes :ire removed und inserted l'roni the outside of the relieetor, and cannot be placed in position or removed there from t'roln the inside, as in my invention, und henee when such reeetor is inserted in ncnvity in n ceiling, es is eounnon, a broken glass ezninot he removed or another inserted without tnking down the entire reflector, :is the pene is removed or inserted i'roln the outside of the reileetor; Whereas in my construetion :t pene een readily be removed in suoli ease from the inside Without taking down the reflector.

What I elniin ns my invention is The eolnbinatioil, with the eireulztr bnseriin (t, having vertical lips on each of its edges,2n1d radial T-sheped ribs b, with outer flanges, n u, and projecting upper ends secured to the upper rim, otthe upper circular rim, c, provided with projecting.;` eers d, turned inward :nid down werd, and a series of panes oi' opel` glass, e, litting in the panels, and readily removed or inserted from the inside of the reflector, and so arranged es to reti eet downward the greater part oi l the light and transmit the remaining portion through them, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

SAM. B. H. VANCE. Witnesses:

G. G. BAKKER, J. T. DENNIS. 

